Lando Norris, Brazilian GP 2021
© McLaren
McLaren has responded quickly and clearly to reports from the Formula 1 team and the entire Woking-based company has been sold to Audi.
It is well known that Audi, the Volkswagen-owned German luxury car manufacturer, will be linked to a Formula 1 entry for 2026 – just like the sister VW brand Porsche.
But those reports boosted a gear earlier this week with the claim that Audi has bought the entire McLaren Group, which is valued by Forbes at an estimated $ 600 million.
“McLaren Group is aware of a news report that it has been sold to Audi,” the company said in a media statement.
“This is completely inaccurate, and McLaren is seeking to have the story removed.
“McLaren’s technology strategy has always involved ongoing discussions and collaboration with relevant partners and suppliers, including other automakers.
“However, there has been no change in the ownership structure of McLaren Group,” the statement concluded.
Former Mercedes race boss Norbert Haug, who worked closely with McLaren in the successful Mika Hakkinen era, said Audi’s buying the British team would be “wonderful for anyone interested in Formula One”.
“It just underscores how right and important it was that we at Mercedes did this over ten years ago with our own team on much cheaper financial terms,” he told Sky Deutschland.
“Even though we are not winning the eighth title in a row in 2021, we have done pretty well since then,” Haug smiled.
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